Non-Twist Tape Package and Method of Non-Twist Unwinding of Tape

ABSTRACT

A tape package comprises a coreless body formed from a plurality of spirally wound layers of tape that define the package body with an outer diameter and a traverse length. The spirally wound layers of tape extend axially along the traverse length of the package body and include a number of spiral windings of tape in each layer. The package body permits lengths of tape to unwind from along its interior and to pay-off laterally through an egress area or opening in a sidewall of the package body with little residual twist. In one configuration, the package body has the same given number of spiral windings of tape along each side of the egress area or opening. Any twisting occurring along a length of tape unwinding from along the package body interior in a first direction on one side of the egress area or opening is accommodated or substantially reduced by any twisting occurring along the length of tape unwinding in a reverse direction on the other or opposite side of the egress area or opening. Alternate directions of unwinding tape on each side of the egress area or opening permits tape to pay-off laterally with little residual twist.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a nonprovisional patent application claiming priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/316,580 filed Mar. 23, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an apparatus and method of unwinding tape from a tape package that resists or eliminates twisting of tape during unwinding and withdrawal from the tape package.

BACKGROUND

Prior art “tape” packages including wound packages of strips or bands of paper, metal, or other materials, such as woven materials, typically define a package design with a wind pattern that is often chosen relative to the goal of the package design and uses of the “tape” dispensed from the package. For instance, package designs may maximize the amount of material incorporated in a package or may maximize the packing density of a given package, while other package designs may define certain wind patterns to achieve one or more functions. Other package designs may provide mechanical integrity and structure to a given package, such as package designs that seek to prevent or minimize knock-off along the periphery of package bodies.

Many prior art packages experience twisting of a “tape” or the wound strips or bands of material when such tape or material unwinds and withdraws from the package. With respect to cable tape packages, end users in one application may employ cable tape for measuring and pulling underground cable through cable ducts or conduits and for identifying cable routes. Unwinding and withdrawal of cable tape from various package designs often results in a twisting phenomenon that can result in tangling of tape and can interfere with measuring and pulling cable through underground ducts or conduits. In addition, twisting of cable can create difficulties in laying or installing detectable configurations of the tape within ducts and conduits and directly along underground cable routes. Such circumstances can adversely affect material and installation costs.

Thus, a tape package and method of withdrawing tape that facilitate unwinding and withdrawing of tape from a package body for any of a variety of applications that eliminates or at least minimizes twisting of a length of tape as it withdraws and extends from the package body are desirable.

SUMMARY

In general, in one aspect, the invention provides a non-twist tape package comprising a coreless body formed from a plurality of spirally wound layers of tape that enables unwinding of a length of tape with no residual twisting or at least reduced residual twisting. The plurality of spirally wound layers of tape defines an outer diameter and a traverse length of the package body. Spirally wound layers of tape extend axially along the traverse length of the package body and include multiple spiral windings of tape. Multiple spiral windings of tape include the same number of spiral windings of tape disposed on each side of an egress area or opening defined along a sidewall of the package body. The package body is constructed and arranged to enable spiral windings of tape to unwind from along an inner surface of the coreless body defining a cavity, and to pay-off laterally through the egress area or opening. Successive spiral windings of tape may unwind from along the inner surface on one side of the egress area or opening in a first direction. Subsequent or other successive spiral windings of tape may unwind from along the inner surface on an opposite side of the egress area or opening in a reverse direction relative to the first direction. As a result, any twisting occurring along a length of tape unwinding in the reverse direction helps to accommodate or to at least reduce any twisting occurring along a length of tape unwinding in the first direction so that little or no residual twisting occurs along a length of unwound tape.

In another aspect, the invention provides an alternative tape package comprising a coreless body formed from a plurality of spirally wound layers of tape that enables unwinding of a length of tape with a controlled amount of residual twisting. The plurality of spirally wound layers of tape defines an outer diameter and a traverse length of the package body. Spirally wound layers of tape extend axially along the traverse length of the package body and include multiple spiral windings of tape. Spiral windings of tape include a first given number of spiral windings of tape disposed on one side of an egress area or opening defined along a sidewall of the package body and a second given number of spiral windings of tape disposed on an opposite side of the egress area or opening to define a select wind pattern. The first given number of spiral windings is different, e.g., greater or less, than the second given number of spiral windings. For instance, the first given number of spiral windings of tape may include 5.5 windings of tape, while the second given number of spiral windings of tape may include 6.5 windings of tape. The package body is constructed and arranged to enable spiral windings of tape to unwind from along an inner surface of the coreless body defining a cavity, and to pay-off laterally through the egress area or opening. The first given number of spiral windings unwinds from along the inner surface on one side of the egress area or opening in a first direction and the second given number of spiral windings of tape unwind from along the inner surface an opposite side of the egress area or opening in a reverse direction relative to the first direction. As a result, a controlled given amount of residual twist occurs along a length of unwound tape.

Various aspects of the invention may provide one or more of the following features, capabilities and/or advantages. A coreless tape package can enable lateral pay-off of tape through a sidewall of the body of the tape package. Lateral pay-off of tape can include drawing a given length of tape through the package body sidewall and from along an inner surface of the package body that defines a coreless interior or cavity. Drawing or lateral pay-off of a given length of tape from a package body can occur with little or no twisting of the tape. Minimizing or eliminating twisting during drawing or pay-off of a given length of tape from the package body helps to reduce or eliminate the incidence of tangling of and/or damage to unwound tape during pay-off and use. Material loses and costs, therefore, may be better controlled.

The coreless tape package can include multiple spiral windings of tape in any given wind pattern to define the package body with any required or desired outer diameter and length. The coreless tape package can thereby be constructed and arranged for a variety of applications. Configurations of the coreless tape package can include multiple spiral windings of tape wound in any wind pattern with the same given number of spiral windings or turns of a length of tape on each side of an egress area or opening established along the sidewall of the package body.

The resulting package body can enable portions of tape or successive spiral windings of tape to unwind from an inner surface of the package body that defines the coreless body interior or cavity with little or minimal twisting, or at least substantially reduced twisting along a length of unwound tape. A portion of tape or successive spiral windings of tape can unwind from along the inner surface of the package body cavity on one side of the sidewall egress area or opening in a first direction. Further portions of tape or successive spiral windings of tape can unwind from along the inner surface from an opposing side of the sidewall egress area or opening in a direction substantially reverse to the first direction. Any twisting occurring during unwinding of portions of tape or spiral windings of tape from along the inner surface in the reverse direction can help to accommodate or untwist any twisting occurring during unwinding of portions of tape or spiral windings of tape in the first direction. A general net effect of unwinding tape from along the inner surface defining the package body cavity in substantially different or alternate directions as described can help to eliminate or to at least reduce the amount of twisting along a length of tape. In addition, unwinding portions of tape or successive spiral windings of tape in substantially different or alternate directions from along the inner surface of the package body as described can further help to eliminate twisting or to at least reduce the amount of twisting along a length of tape during lateral pay-off from the package body.

Alternative configurations of the coreless tape package can include multiple spiral windings of tape wound in any wind pattern with different numbers of spiral windings or turns of a length of tape on each side of the egress area or opening. These alternative configurations permit introduction of a substantially controlled amount of twist along a length of unwound tape that can provide advantageous properties to the unwound tape such as, for instance, in a particular application of the tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combination of a laterally dispensing tape package and dispensing container according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the tape package in the dispensing container shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of the body of the tape package shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4A is a side view of a layer of tape wherein multiples of the layer build a package body in a helical pattern according to another aspect of the invention;

FIG. 4B is a side view of a traverse portion of the package body including multiple over-lying layers of tape shown in FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is a partial perspective top view of the traverse helical portion of the package body shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to a further aspect of the invention of forming a package body for lateral pay-off through the package sidewall;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to another aspect of the invention of forming a package body having a helical diamond wind pattern for lateral pay-off through the package sidewall; and

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to another aspect of the invention of unwinding and withdrawing a length of tape from a package body according to the invention without residual twist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides a combination of a traverse package of tape and a dispensing container constructed and arranged to enable withdrawal and extension of lengths of tape from the tape package and to dispense lengths of tape through an opening defined in the container. The invention also provides the tape package constructed and arranged as a coreless body having multiple layers of tape wound to facilitate unwinding of tape from an interior surface of the package body and to enable withdrawal of tape laterally through a sidewall of the package body with minimal or no twisting of tape. Multiple layers of tape may be wound in any of a variety of wind patterns to build the package body according to the invention. Wind patterns typically result from repeatedly traversing a length of tape along a supportive winding spindle while the spindle rotates or turns in a given direction. Multiple spiral windings or turns of the length of tape result in multiple layers of tape building the package body.

The package body according to the invention includes any wind pattern that defines the same given number of spiral windings or turns of a length of tape on each side of an egress area or opening established along the sidewall of the package body through which a length of tape withdraws laterally from the interior of the package body. Spiral windings of a length of tape unwind from along the interior surface of the package body that defines the coreless cavity of the package body. Successive spiral windings of tape unwind from the interior surface in a first direction along one side of the sidewall egress area or opening and subsequently unwind from the interior surface in a reverse direction relative to the first direction along an opposite side of the sidewall egress area or opening. Any twisting that occurs during unwinding of the length of tape in the reverse direction substantially accommodates or reduces any twisting that occurs during unwinding of the length of tape in the first direction. The net effect can result in elimination or at least a reduction in the extent of twisting along the length of tape during unwinding from the interior surface of the package body and during lateral pay-off through the sidewall egress area or opening. The invention further provides methods of winding a tape in multiple layers with a wind pattern to construct the coreless traverse package body as described.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one aspect, the invention provides a laterally dispensing tape package and dispenser 10 including a traverse wound package of tape 12 and a dispensing container 14. The traverse wound tape package 12 defines a design and configuration that enables tape to pay-off laterally through a sidewall of the tape package 12 without residual twist. The disclosure of the invention uses the term “tape” to refer to any elongate member having a length substantially longer than a width and suitable for winding across a spindle, spool or similar supportive winding device to form a package. Such “tape” may include an elongate member of one or more materials including, but not limited to woven materials, nonwoven materials, paper, and metal, such as, for instance, twisted pairs of metal conductors. For purposes of disclosing the invention only, the tape package 12 includes a measuring and pulling tape for underground cable or utility service line measurement and installation. In some configurations of the invention, such measuring and pulling tape 12 may include detectable elements that enable detection and location of underground cable and utility service lines as well as detection and tracking of underground cable and utility service line routes. The invention is not limited in this respect and envisions that other embodiments and configurations of the package 12 are within the scope of the invention.

The traverse package of tape 12 according to the invention is constructed and arranged as a coreless body 12. In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the package body 12 includes a package of spirally wound tape 18. The spirally wound tape 18 includes a continuous elongate member having a relatively narrow thickness and defines, in one configuration, a flat configuration or cross-section. The tape 18 may define any width within a range of widths and any length within a range of lengths. In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the package body 12 defines a cylindrical shape, although the invention is not limited in this respect and envisions that the package body 12 may define other configurations or shapes.

In general, to form the package body 12, a winding position of the tape 18 traverses axially along a winding supportive core, e.g., a winding spindle or shaft, in a reciprocating movement or an oscillating manner while the supportive core rotates in one direction. The tape 18 thereby winds along a surface of the rotating core to define the package body 12 in a required or desired wind pattern and with required or desired dimensions.

As mentioned, the invention is not limited and envisions that the traverse package body 12 may define any of a variety of wind patterns including, but are not limited to, uniform helical wind patterns, arbitrary wind patterns, and stepped wind patterns. To form the package body 12 according to the invention, the tape 18 winds along the winding supportive core in a selected wind pattern. As the tape winds 18 the same given number of spiral windings or turns of tape 18 are wound along each side of a location designated in the wind pattern and/or along the spindle that helps to establish an egress area or opening in the sidewall of the resulting package body 12. The sidewall egress area or opening facilitates lateral pay-off of a length of tape from an interior of the coreless body, as described above.

In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the tape winds 18 in the selected wind pattern, such that, the same given number of spiral windings or turns of tape 18 are wound along each side of an approximate mid-point location in the wind pattern and/or along the spindle. The approximate mid-point location about which the tape 18 winds helps to establish an egress area or opening at an approximate mid-point along the sidewall (traverse length L₁) of the body package 12.

In alternative configurations of the package body 12 according to the invention, the tape 18 winds in the selected wind pattern, such that, the same given number of spiral windings or turns of tape are wound along each side of a location designated in the wind pattern and/or along the spindle, such that, the designated location helps to establish an egress area or opening along any point or location along the sidewall (traverse length L₁) of the resulting package body 12. Upon building the package body 12 to the required or desired dimensions, the package body 12 is removed from the supportive winding core to produce the package body 12 with a coreless interior or inner cavity.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, and with further reference to FIG. 1, the package body 12 according to the invention includes a traverse portion 29 including multiple spiral windings or layers of tape 16 wound in a selected wind pattern across a supportive winding core or spindle. The number of spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 and/or the number of layers of tape 16 that lay across the core or spindle define the package body 12 with a required or desired outer diameter OD₁ and a required or desired traverse length L₁. In addition, the spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 help to establish an egress area or opening 27 along a sidewall 22 or traverse length L₁ of the package body 12. The egress area or opening 27 facilitates lateral withdrawal of a length of tape 18 from within the coreless interior of the package body 12. As a winding position of the tape 18 traverses axially along the spindle in a selected wind pattern, the same number of spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 are wound along each side of a location designated in the wind pattern and/or along the spindle that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22. The egress area or opening 27 is thereby established at a required or desired location along the sidewall 22 of the resulting package body 12. As shown in FIG. 3, one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention includes the sidewall egress area or opening 27 established at an approximate mid-point of the traverse length L₁ of the package body 12. The invention is not limited in this respect and envisions that the sidewall egress area or opening 27 may be established at any location along the sidewall 22 or traverse length L₁ of the package body 12.

The dimensions of the package body 12 may permit the package body 12 to be positioned within the dispensing container 14 in an upright position, such that, the a longitudinal axis of the traverse length L₁ of the coreless body 12 is disposed at a substantially vertical orientation relative to a sidewall 32 of the container 14. The package body 12 outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁ further help to enable unwinding and withdrawal of the tape 18 from the interior of the container 14. The invention is not limited in this respect and anticipates the package body 12 may define any outer diameter OD₁ and any traverse length L_(1.) The outer diameter OD₁ of the package body 12 and the traverse length L₁ of the wound tape 18 may depend on the width W₁ of the tape 18 and/or the length of the tape 18 required or desired for a particular package body 12 and/or a particular tape application. In the configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention shown in FIG. 3, the outer diameter OD₁ and any traverse length L₁ define the package body 12 with a cylindrical shape, although the invention is not limited in this respect and anticipates of shapes of the package body 12.

The container 14 has dimensions and defines an internal volume sufficient to receive and house the package body 12 and to facilitate withdrawal of lengths of tape 18 from the package body 12 and the container 14. In one configuration of the container 14 according to the invention, the dimensions and the internal volume of the container 14 are sufficient to receive cushioning materials (not shown) between an inner surface of the container 14 and an outer surface of the package body 12 where the package body 12 is contained inside the container 14. Cushioning materials may define any size and any shape suitable to help to conform to one or more spaces defined between the inner surface of the container 14 and the outer surface of the package body 12. In addition, cushioning materials may include one or more materials suitable for cushioning purposes and for insertion along such one or more spaces. For instance, cushioning materials may define an interior sleeve, or one or more wedges, configured for confirming to and/or positioning along one or more spaces between the inner surface of the container 14 and the surface of the package body 12 or the outer diameter OD₁ of the package body 12. Such cushioning materials thereby surround partially or wholly the package body 12 when the package body 12 is disposed within the interior of the container 14, and help to protect and to stabilize the package body 12 during shipping and storing and during tape pay-off.

The traverse portion 29 of the package body 12 results from spiral winding successive given lengths of tape 15 across the length and between ends of a supportive winding spindle. The tape 18 traverses axially along the spindle, as it turns, in a reciprocating motion in a selected wind pattern to build successive spiral windings of the tape 18 and thereby multiple layers of tape 16. The successive spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 build up the outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁ of the package body 12. The package body 12 according to the invention, therefore, may include any number of spiral windings of the tape 18 with the same given number of spiral windings of the tape 18 wound on each side of a location designated along the selected wind pattern, along the spindle, and/or along the traverse length L₁ of the package body 12 that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27.

A wind pattern forming the package body 12 according to the invention may include any wind pattern suitable for helping to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22 of the resulting package body 12. A wind pattern also may include any wind pattern suitable for helping to build the package body 12 with mechanical integrity, such that, the resulting coreless body 12 resists damage and stays together.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention includes the sidewall egress area or opening 27 disposed at an approximate mid-point location along the sidewall or traverse length L₁ of the package body 12. The egress area or opening 27 facilitates feeding a length of tape 18 from an interior surface of the coreless body 12 through the package body 12 and the egress area or opening 27 to thereby pay-off laterally the length of tape 18 to an area external to the package 12. However, the invention is not so limited and envisions that the sidewall egress area or opening 27 may be disposed at any location along the sidewall or traverse length L₁ of the package body 12.

In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, a single “traverse” of the tape 18 may include movement of a winding position of the tape 18 from adjacent a left end of the spindle or the building package body 12 to adjacent a right end of the spindle or the building package body 12, or vice versa. A given number of windings of the tape 18 around the spindle occur with each traverse, where a single “winding” of the tape 18 around the spindle or the building package body 12 occurs with each 360° rotation of the spindle. Each traverse of the tape 18 across the spindle, therefore, may include a given number spiral windings of tape 18 around the spindle or the building package body 12. The number of windings of tape 18 may correlate to the number of 360° rotations of the spindle in a given traverse.

The spiral windings of tape 18 along the spindle and the building package body 12 may occur as a winding position of the tape 18 traverses axially back and forth across the spindle or the building package body 12 at a given angle(s). Lengths of tape 15 may wind flat against a surface of the spindle and spiral wind against the spindle surface at one or more angles. The angles at which the tape 18 winds do not need to be of a specific dimension nor need to have consistency within a given traverse or from one traverse to another. The invention is not limited in this respect and anticipates that the spiral windings and layers of tape 16 of the package body 12 according to the invention may wind at consistent and/or inconsistent angles relative to the spindle to define the package body 12.

As described above, the package body 12 according to the invention includes the same given number of spiral windings or turns of tape 18 disposed along each side of the egress area or opening 27 established along the sidewall 22 or traverse length L₁ of the package body 12. For instance, in one illustrative configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the spiral windings or turns of tape 18 occur at one or more consistent and/or inconsistent angles to helically-wrap segments of tape 15. A winding position of the tape 18 traverses axially along the spindle and moves back and forth from an approximate center location along the selected wind pattern and/or the length of the spindle (or building package body 12). The approximate center location helps to establish the egress area or opening 12 along the sidewall or traverse length L₁ of the package body 12. For instance, in this case, the winding position of the tape 18 moves from a position adjacent to a left end of the spindle or building package body 12 toward the approximate center location, such as, along the length of the spindle or building package body 12, and reverses direction at about the approximate center location and moves from about the center location back to adjacent to the left end. Subsequently, the winding position reverses direction and moves from adjacent the left end to adjacent the right end of the spindle or building package body 12. This reciprocating motion of the winding position of the tape 18 may constitute a single traverse of the winding position and a given number of spiral windings of the tape 18. With a subsequent traverse, the winding position of the tape 18 moves from adjacent to the right end toward the approximate center location, and reverses direction at about the approximate center location and moves from about the center location back to adjacent the right end. Similarly, the winding position of the tape 18 subsequently reverses direction and moves from adjacent the right end to adjacent the left end of the spindle or building package body 12. This latter reciprocating motion may also constitute a single traverse of the winding position and a given number of spiral windings of the tape 18. The reciprocal winding of the tape 18, e.g., and given number of traverses of the winding position, result with the same given number of spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 on either side of the approximate center location designated along the length of the spindle or the building package body 12. The designated approximate center location thereby helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 at approximately a center or mid-point location along the sidewall or lateral length L₁ of the resulting package body 12.

As described, each traverse may include a given number of spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 and a given number of rotations of the spindle. One or more traverses may constitute a single layer of tape 16 of the package body 12, depending on the selected wind pattern. Successive traverses of the tape 18 as described above thereby build the package body 12 with required or desired dimensions. The configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention described above is only one illustrative example of a sequence of spiral windings that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the package body sidewall 22 with an equal number of spiral windings of tape 18 on each side of the egress area or opening 27.

The resulting package body 12 according to the invention enables unwinding of lengths of tape 18 from along an inner surface 20 of the package body 12 that defines a coreless interior or an inner cavity 24. The inner cavity 24 results when the package body 12 is removed from the spindle. The inner cavity 24 extends substantially along a central or longitudinal axis of the traverse portion 29 of the package body 12. A length of tape 18 including a given number of successive spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 unwinds from along the inner surface 20 and feeds laterally through the package body 12 and through the egress area or opening 27 along the sidewall 22, as shown in FIG. 3.

With any of the possible configurations of the package body 12 according to the invention, successive spiral windings or turns of the tape 18, or at least a portion of a layer of tape 16, wound in any wind pattern may withdraw from along the inner surface 20 of the package body 12. Successive spiral windings of the tape 18, or at least a portion of a layer of tape 16, that withdraw from along the inner surface 20 of the package body on one side of the sidewall egress area or opening 27 unwind in a first direction, e.g., a clockwise direction. Subsequent successive spiral windings of the tape 18, or at least a portion of a layer of tape 16, that withdraw from along the inner surface 20 on an opposite side of the sidewall egress area or opening 27 unwind in a reverse direction, e.g., a counter-clockwise direction, relative to the first direction. Any twist occurring along a length of tape 18 unwinding in the reverse direction helps to accommodate or helps to counter substantially any twist occurring along a length of tape 18 unwinding in the first direction. As a result, the length of tape 18 may be unwound from the inner surface 20 and/or pulled through the sidewall egress area or opening 27 with little or no twist, or at least reduced twist, along the length of tape 18. The object of the invention is that a given average number of twists that occur along the length of tape 18 over a given number of windings or turns of the tape 18 results in the net effect of little twisting or at least reduced twisting along the length of the tape 18 while the tape length unwinds and/or pays-off laterally.

Still referring to FIG. 3, in another aspect, the invention provides an alternative configuration of the package body 12 that enables a length of tape to unwind and to pay-off laterally from the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22 of the package body with a controlled amount of required or desired residual twisting. Control of an amount of residual twisting may be achieved with winding a different number of spiral windings of tape 18 along each side of the egress area or opening 27.

To form the alternative package body 12 according to the invention, the tape 18 winds along the winding supportive core in a selected wind pattern. As the tape 18 winds traversely as described above, a different number of spiral windings or turns of tape 18 are wound along each side of a location designated in the wind pattern and/or along the spindle that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22 of the resulting package body 12.

For example, to form one configuration of the package body 12, a single traverse of the winding position 34 of the tape 18 may wind twelve (12) spiral windings of tape 18 along the spindle or building package body 12. The winding pattern may include winding 6.5 spiral windings of tape 18 on one side of the egress area or opening 27 and subsequently winding 5.5 spiral windings of tape 18 on an opposite side of the egress area or opening 27. As described above, the spiral windings of tape 18 occur on each side of a location designated along the selected wind pattern and/or along the spindle that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27.

In general, the tape 18 would wind, such that, a first given number of spiral windings occur along one side of the designated location and a second given number of spiral windings occur along an opposite side of the designated location, wherein the first given number of spiral windings may be different, e.g., greater or less, than the second given number of spiral windings. As a result, successive spiral windings of tape 18, such as the first given number of spiral windings, may unwind from along the inner surface 20 of the package body 12 in a first direction, e.g., clockwise, on one side of the egress area or opening 27. Any twisting occurring along unwound tape 18 from the first given number of spiral windings would not be completely accommodated or countered by any twisting occurring from unwinding the second given number of spiral windings in the reverse direction, e.g., counter-clockwise, along the opposite side of the egress area or opening 27. The different given numbers of spiral windings on each side of the egress area or opening 27 help to introduce a controlled amount of residual twisting along a length of unwound of tape 18. The length of tape 18 may thereby pay-off laterally with a required or desired amount of residual twisting.

As mentioned, the invention is not limited and envisions that the alternative package body 12 may define any of a variety of wind patterns including, but are not limited to, uniform helical wind patterns, arbitrary wind patterns, and stepped wind patterns.

Only for purposes of disclosing the invention in further detail, FIG. 3 illustrates one possible configuration of the tape package 12 according to the invention including the package body 12 wound in a precision helical diamond pattern that enables lateral pay-off of tape 18 with no twisting or at least reduced residual twisting. As mentioned, the invention is not limited in this respect and anticipates that any wind pattern may build the package body 12 according to the invention. For instance, other wind patterns that would form the package body 12 according to the invention include arbitrary wind patterns and stepped wind patterns, including, but not limited to, stepped patterns disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477, 035 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,448.

As shown in FIG. 3, the helical diamond pattern of the package body 12 results from spiral winding traversely and helically multiple windings of tape 18 across a rotating or turning spindle at one or more angles and in a crisscross configuration. As a winding position 34 of the tape 18 winds axially and helically along the spindle or building package body 12, the lengths of tape 18 lay flat across the spindle or the building package body 12 at one or more angles and crisscross over prior traverses and windings of the tape 18 to form a helical diamond pattern. After a given number of traverses, where in this case a single traverse includes movement of the winding position 34 from adjacent to a left end of the spindle or building package body 12 to adjacent to a right end of the spindle or package body 12 (or vice versa), successive helical windings form multiple over-lying layers of tape 16 in a diamond pattern. The package body 12 thereby defines diamond-shaped zones or spaces 28 that help establish the sidewall egress area or opening 27.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the combination according to the invention including the dispensing container 14 and the traverse package having the package body 12 permits lateral pay-off of given lengths of tape for any of a variety of applications, wherein lengths of withdrawn tape exhibit little or at least substantially reduced twist. In response to a pulling force on a terminal end 18A of the tape 18, at least a portion of a layer of tape layer 16, or a number of successive spiral windings or turns of tape 18, unwind from along the inner surface 20 of the coreless body 12 in substantially two alternate directions, e.g., a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction, as described above. The terminal end 18A of the tape 18 may then feed laterally through the package body 12 and through one or more diamond-shaped spaces 28 established in the sidewall 22 as the egress area or opening 27. The tape 18 then feeds from the interior of the container 14 through a first opening 30 that a dispensing end of the container 14 defines. Lengths of tape 18 thereby unwind and withdraw from the interior surface 20 of the coreless package 12 and through the sidewall egress area or opening 27 and the first container opening 28 for pay-off with little or no twist along the withdraw lengths of tape 18.

The invention is not limited and envisions the container 14 may include an opening (not shown) defined in the sidewall 32 of the container 14. In addition, in an alternative configuration of the invention, the package body 12 is enclosed in a hermetically sealed polymer, e.g., plastic, package (not shown) rather than the container 14. The plastic package is constructed and arranged to contain and to protect the package body 12. The plastic package is also constructed and arranged to permit unwinding of lengths of tape 18 from the interior surface 20 of the coreless package 12 and lateral pay-off of lengths of tape 18 from the sidewall opening 27 and through an opening configured in the plastic package. The package sidewall opening 27 and the plastic package opening may substantially align to permit withdrawal of lengths of tape 18.

Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, and with further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in another aspect, the invention provides the tape package having features of the package body 12 described above. The tape package includes a coreless cylindrical package body 12 formed from multiple spirally wound layers of tape 16 that define the package body 12 with a given outer diameter OD₁ and length L₁. In one configuration of the tape package 12 according the invention, multiple spirally wound layers of tape 16 define a precision helical diamond pattern, as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. The helical tape package 12 shown in and described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C is only one illustrative example of a possible configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention. As mentioned, the invention is not limited to the helical diamond wind pattern and envisions that other wind patterns can form the coreless body 12 with the sidewall egress area or opening 27 according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 4A and 4B, the traverse portion 29 of the package body 12 includes multiple spiral windings or turns of tape 18 that form multiple over-lying, spirally wound layers of tape 16. The package body 12 builds from successive spiral windings or turns of the tape 18 that lay traversely and helically at angles along a surface 30A of a rotating supportive spindle 30 or along the building package body 12 to define the multiple spirally wound layers of tape 16. The spiral windings or turns of tape 18 are wound in order the same number of spiral windings of the tape 18 are wound on each side of a location designated along the selected wind pattern and/or along the spindle or building package body 12 that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the package body sidewall 22.

The angles at which the spiral windings of the tape 18 wind along the spindle 30 or the building package body 12 are relative to a central or longitudinal axis of the coreless interior or cavity 24 of the package body 12. Such angles, as mentioned, may be consistent or inconsistent angles relative to one another.

The helical diamond pattern defines zones or spaces 28 that result from successive and spaced helical spiral windings or turns of tape 18. The zones or spaces 28 help to configure the egress area or sidewall opening 27, e.g., through displacement of spiral windings or layers of tape 16, and help to permit lengths of tape 18 to feed laterally from along an inner surface of the coreless body 12. As mentioned and as shown in FIG. 3, the sidewall egress area or opening 27 may be located at an approximate mid-point along the traverse length L₁ of the package body.

In addition, the helical diamond pattern helps to build mechanical strength and integrity into the package body 12 that is advantageous when the package body 12 is removed from the spindle 30 and freestanding, as well as when lengths of tape 18 are withdrawn from the package body 12.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the tape 18 is wound from an initial winding position 32 along the spindle 30. A traversing winding position 34 of the tape 18, shown in one of any number of possible positions along the spindle 30 in FIG. 4A, advances from the initial winding position 32 traversely and axially along the spindle 30 as the spindle 30 rotates in one direction, as shown by arrow 50 in FIG. 4A. The winding position 34 traverses the length of the spindle 30 or building traverse portion 29 of the package 12 along an area between and adjacent to each end 31A and 31B of the spindle 30 or building portion 29 in a reciprocal movement, as shown by arrow 52 in FIG. 4A. The winding position 34 traverses the spindle in one direction, such as from adjacent to end 31A to adjacent to end 31B, until it reaches a turnaround point or reversal position along the spindle or building traverse portion 29 at which the winding position 34 reverses its direction of movement, such as from end 31B to end 31A. The turnaround point or reversal position may be any point along the spindle 30 or building traverse portion 29, and may be adjacent to each end 31A and 31B of the spindle or building package body 12. It should be noted that the winding position 34 of the tape 18 does not need to reach each end 31A and 31B nor an area adjacent to each end 31A and 31B, such that, the turnaround point or reversal position may be at any position along the spindle or building traverse portion 29.

As a result, the traversing tape 18 winds the same given number of spiral windings or turns of tape 18 on each side of a location designated in the selected wind pattern and/or along the spindle that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22 of the resulting package body 12. Possible configurations of the package body 12 according to the invention shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4A include the designated location along the selected wind pattern or along the spindle that helps to establish the sidewall egress area or opening 27 at an approximate mid-point location along the traverse length L₁ of the body package 12.

Operation of the spindle 30 and winding of the tape 18 may be calibrated and/or controlled, such that, the winding position 34 of the tape 18 reverses its direction at substantially the same turnaround point or reversal position along the spindle 30 or building traverse portion 29 with each successive traverse of the tape 18.

Successive helical spiral windings or turns 15 of tape lay the tape 18 substantially flat across the spindle 30 or the building traverse portion 29 to form the package body 12. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, helical spiral windings or turns 15 at some point along the spindle 30 intersect and lay across previously laid spiral windings or turns 15 in a crisscrossing pattern. The crisscrossing pattern thereby results from the spindle 30 turning, the winding position 34 of the tape 18 oscillating between ends 31A and 31B, and the tape 18 helically winding at an angle along the spindle 20 or the building traverse portion 29.

In this configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention shown in FIG. 4A, a single traverse of the winding position 34 results in a given number of successive helical spiral windings or turns 15 of tape along an area of the spindle 30 or building traverse portion 29 between ends 31A and 31B of the spindle. In addition, as the winding position 34 of the tape 18 advances and the spindle 30 rotates at a given speed, separate and adjacent spiral windings 15 of tape may be laid during a single traverse that are spaced from one another and define the zones or spaces 28 of the diamond pattern. The speed or rate of traverse motion of the advancing winding position 34 and the speed or rate of rotation of the spindle are typically maintained at a required or desired ratio. Each traverse of the winding position 34 of the tape 18, therefore, includes a given number of spiral windings 15 and a given number of rotations of the spindle 30.

A given number of traverses of the tape 18 may lay a given number of successive spiral windings or turns 15 of tape 18 to define a single layer of tape 16. In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, two traverses, or, in other words, the back and forth advancement of the winding position 34 of the tape 18 from left to right and from right to left between ends 31A and 31B constitutes a single winding cycle. A given number of winding cycles may form a single layer of tape 16 in the helical diamond pattern.

The resulting package body 12, when removed from the spindle, is coreless and includes the inner surface 22 defining a coreless interior or cavity 24 of the package body 12. Withdrawing successive spiral windings of tape 18, or at least a portion of a layer of tape 16, from along the inner surface 22 above the sidewall egress area or opening 27 results in twisting of the withdrawn portion of tape 18 in one direction, e.g., clockwise direction. Continuing to withdraw successive spiral windings of tape 18, or at least a further portion of a layer of tape 16, from along the inner surface 22 below the egress area or opening 27 results in twisting the withdrawn portion of tape 18 in an opposite direction, e.g., counter-clockwise direction. Any twisting occurring along the length of tape 18 unwound in the opposite direction helps to accommodate or helps to counter any twisting occurring along the length of tape unwound in the first direction. The tape 18, therefore, may further pay-off laterally through the sidewall egress area or opening 27 with minimal twist or at least substantially reduced twist.

EXAMPLE 1

FIG. 4A shows one illustrative example of the package body 12 according to the invention. The package body 12 in the illustrated example results from five (5) winding cycles that collectively lay a single or first layer of tape 16 along the spindle 30 or building traverse portion 29. In this configuration of the package body 12, the tape 18 has a width W₁ of from about 0.32 inches to about 0.5 inches, and the spindle 30 has an outer diameter OD of about 3 inches and a traverse length of about 9 to about 10 inches. The spindle 30 rotates about 3.4 rotations for each winding cycle.

After completion of five winding cycles, the winding position 34 of the tape 18 returns to the initial winding position 32 along the spindle 30 to begin laying the next layer of tape 16 over the previously wound underlying layer of tape 16 in the same helical diamond pattern. As shown in FIG. 4A, the winding position 34 of the tape 18 returns to the initial winding position 32 and then traverses axially along the spindle 30 as the spindle 30 rotates or turns for five identical winding cycles thereby laying a second layer of tape 16 across the first layer of tape 16, such that, the second layer of tape 16 overlies the first layer of tape 16 in the same helical diamond pattern.

As shown in FIG. 4C, three layers of tape 16 result from the completion of fifteen winding cycles. Successive sets of five (5) winding cycles thereby build multiple over-lying layers of tape 16 in the helical diamond pattern to build the traverse helical portion 29 of the package body 12 with the required or desired outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁.

The number of winding cycles that is required to form a single layer of tape 16 in the helical diamond pattern depends on the width W₁ of the tape 18, the outer diameter of the spindle 30, and/or the length of tape 18 to be wound into the package body 12.

EXAMPLE 2

Another illustrative example of the package body 12 according to the invention includes the tape 18 having a narrower width W₁ than the configuration described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, including, for example, a width W₁ of about 0.25 inches. A tape 18 of this width W₁ would require seven (7) winding cycles in contrast to five (5) winding cycles to wind a single layer of tape 16 in the helical diamond pattern along the spindle 30 having the same outer diameter of about 3 inches and traverse length of about 9 or about 10 inches. The spindle 30 in this case rotates about 3.3 rotations per winding cycle.

EXAMPLE 3

A further illustrative example of the package body 12 according to the invention includes the tape 18 having a width W₁ of from about 0.053 or 3/16 inches. A tape 18 of this width W₁ would require ten (10) winding cycles to wind a single layer of tape 16 in the helical diamond pattern along the spindle 30 having the same dimensions including an outer diameter of about 3 inches and traverse length of about 9 to about 10 inches. The spindle 30 would rotate about 3.3 rotations per winding cycle.

Helical diamond patterns formed with the tape 18 having relatively narrower width W₁ would define smaller zones or spaces 28 between individual helical spiral windings or turns 15 of tape in a single traverse, and would produce a more dense helical diamond pattern than that shown in FIG. 4A.

The tape package 12 according to the invention may be formed with tape 18 constructed of one or more materials suitable for constructing the tape 18 for measuring and installing underground cable and utility service lines. Such one or more materials may include woven materials including, but not limited to, synthetic materials, polyester yarns, aramid fibers, and polypropylene fibers or yarns. In addition, such one or more materials may include fibrous materials including, but not limited to, nonwoven strips. In addition, the tape 18 may include one or more materials suitable for enabling the tape 18 to serve as a detection tape to identify installed cable and utility service lines, as well as to identify the locations of cable and utility service line routes. Such detection tape 18 may include conductive yarns and/or carbon black yarns woven with the tape 18, and/or may include one or more metallic elements integrated or incorporated with the tape 18. Such metallic elements may be constructed of one or more detectable metals or metal alloys including, but not limited to, copper, aluminum, or combinations thereof.

Referring to FIG. 5 and with further referenced to FIGS. 2-3, a flow diagram illustrates a further aspect of the invention providing a method 100 of building the tape package 12 according to the invention with a selected wind pattern. The method 100, however, is exemplary only and not limiting. The method may be altered, e.g., by having stages added, removed or rearranged.

At stage 102, the method includes providing a supportive winding core, such as a winding spindle 30, having a required or desired outer diameter and, optionally, a required or desired traverse length. The required or desired outer diameter and, optionally, the traverse length, would be sufficient to wind spirally a given length of tape 18 into the package body 12 having a required or desired outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁. In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁ depend on the length of tape 18 to be wound into the package body 12. In another configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁ of the package body 12 further depend on the dimensions and/or volume of the (optional) dispensing container 14 that houses the package body 12 to enable pay-off of tape 18 from the container 14 interior. The spindle 30 may include a collapsible type of spindle 30 and an elongate cylindrical winding surface 30A. The collapsible spindle 30 may include an inflatable spindle 30 that inflates to a required or desired outer diameter for winding of the package body 12 and deflates subsequent to formation of the package body 12 to permit removal of the body 12 as a coreless package.

At stage 104, guiding the tape 18 from an external supply to the initial winding position 32 on the spindle 30 and securing the tape 18 to the spindle 30.

At stage 106, rotating the spindle 30 for a given number of rotations and traversing the winding position 34 of the tape 18 axially along the spindle 30 for a given number of traverses. Each traverse of the winding position 34 of the tape 18 may be in accordance with the selected wind pattern and includes a given number of spiral windings of the tape 15, a given number of rotations of the spindle 30 and a given number of reciprocating movements of the winding position 34 of the tape 18 across the spindle. One or more traverses of the winding position 34 of the tape 18 may lay one layer of the tape 16 along the spindle 30. As the winding position 34 of the tape 18 moves axially along the spindle 30, segments of tape 15 spiral wind along the spindle or building package body 12. The winding position of the tape 18 advances to wind the same number of spiral windings or turns of tape 15 on each side of a location designated in the wind pattern and/or along the spindle 30 that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22 at a required or desired location. The same number of spiral windings on each side of the sidewall egress area or opening 27 permits lengths of tape 18 to withdraw from along the inner surface 20 defining the coreless interior or cavity 24 of the package body 12 in two alternate directions, e.g., a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. Any twist occurring along a length of tape unwound in one direction, e.g., a clockwise direction, from along the inner surface is accommodated or at least substantially reduced by any twist occurring along a length of tape unwound in an alternate direction, e.g., a counter-clockwise direction.

At stage 108, repeating stage 106 for a given number of traverses to spirally wind a layer of tape 16.

At stage 110, controlling and maintaining a required or desired ratio between the speed or rate of traverse of the winding position 34 of the tape 18 to the speed or rate of rotation of the spindle or building package body 12.

At stage 112, repeating stages 108 and 110 to wind spirally a given number of layers of tape 16 to form the package body 12 with the required or desired outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁.

At stage 118, the method includes removing the package body 12 from the winding spindle 30 to provide the tape package having the package body 12 with the coreless interior or cavity 24. If the spindle 30 employed is a collapsible type, the spindle 30 collapses to remove the package body 12.

Referring to FIG. 6 and with further referenced to FIGS. 4A-4C, a flow diagram illustrates a further aspect of the invention providing a method 200 of building the traverse helical package of tape 12 in a precision helical diamond pattern. The method 200, however, is exemplary only and not limiting. The method may be altered, e.g., by having stages added, removed or rearranged.

At stage 202, the method includes providing a supportive winding core, such as a winding spindle 30, having a required or desired outer diameter and, optionally, a required or desired traverse length. The required or desired outer diameter and, optionally, the traverse length, would be sufficient to wind spirally a given length of tape 18 into the package body 12 having a required or desired outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁. In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁ depend on the length of tape 18 to be wound into the package body 12. In another configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, the outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁ of the package body 12 further depend on the dimensions and/or volume of the (optional) dispensing container 14 that houses the package body 12 to enable pay-off of tape 18 from the container 14 interior. The spindle 30 may include a collapsible type of spindle 30 and an elongate cylindrical winding surface 30A. The collapsible spindle 30 may include an inflatable spindle 30 that inflates to a required or desired outer diameter for winding of the package body 12 and deflates subsequent to formation of the package body 12 to permit removal of the body 12 as a coreless package.

At stage 204, guiding the tape 18 from an external supply to the initial winding position 32 on the spindle 30 and securing the tape 18 to the spindle 30.

At stage 206, rotating the spindle 30 for a given number of rotations and traversing the winding position 34 of the tape 18 axially along the spindle 30 in a reciprocating motion along an area of the spindle or the building package body 12 between ends 31A and 31B of the spindle 30 for a given number of traverses. In one configuration of the package body 12 according to the invention, each traverse includes movement of the winding position 34 from adjacent one end to adjacent an opposing end 31A and 31B of the spindle 30 or building packaging body 12. In addition, each traverse includes a given number of rotations of the spindle 30 and a given number of spiral windings 15 of the tape. The winding position 34 travels along the spindle 30 or the building package body 12 and reaches a turnaround point or reversal position disposed along the spindle 30, e.g., adjacent or proximate to each end 31A and 31B, and reverses direction. The winding position 34 then traverses the spindle 30 toward an opposing turnaround point or reversal position, e.g., adjacent or proximate to an opposite end 31A and 31B. After the winding position 34 completes the given number of traverses, the winding position 34 of the tape 18 completes a single winding cycle and, as a result, a single layer of spirally wound tape 16 lays across the spindle 30 or the building package body 12.

At stage 208, repeating stage 206 for a given number of winding cycles to helically spiral wind additional layers of tape 16, such that, the same number of spiral windings of tape 15 occur on each side of a location designated along the wind pattern and/or along the spindle 30 that helps to establish the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22 of the package body 12. A given number of successive helical spiral windings or turns 15 of the tape 18 intersect or crisscross previously wound underlying spiral windings 15 to define the helical diamond pattern.

At stage 210, controlling and maintaining a required or desired ratio between the speed or rate of traverse of the winding position 34 of the tape 18 to the speed or rate of rotation of the spindle or the building package body 12 so that each spiral winding of the tape 15 does not overlap with an adjacent spiral winding of the tape 15.

At stage 212, repeating stages 108 and 110 to helically spiral wind a given number of over-lying layers of tape 16 to form the package body 12 with the required or desired outer diameter OD₁ and traverse length L₁.

At stage 214, the method includes removing the package body 12 from the winding spindle 30 to provide the tape package having the package body 12 with a coreless interior or cavity 24. If the spindle 30 employed is a collapsible type, the spindle 30 collapses to remove the package body 12.

Referring to FIG. 7, a flow diagram illustrates another aspect of the invention providing a method 300 of pay-off of tape 18 from the tape package 12 constructed and arranged according to the invention. The tape package includes the package body 12 having multiple layers of tape 16 spirally wound in a selected wind pattern and includes the egress area or opening 27 located in the sidewall 22 of the package body 12 that facilitates lateral pay-off of lengths of tape 18. The method 300, however, is exemplary only and not limiting. The method may be altered, e.g., by having stages added, removed or rearranged.

At stage 302, the method includes positioning the coreless traverse package body 12 according to the invention in an upright position with a central or longitudinal axis relative to the traverse length L₁ of the package body 12 disposed in a substantially vertical orientation. Optionally, the method further includes placing the package body 12 within the interior of the dispensing container 14 with the central or longitudinal axis of the coreless body 12 disposed in a substantially vertical orientation relative to a sidewall 32 of the container 14.

At stage 304, the method includes unwinding, e.g., in response to a pulling force at the terminal end 18A of the tape 18, a given number of successive spiral windings or turns of tape 18, or at least a portion of a layer of tape 16, in a first direction, e.g., clockwise direction, from along the inner surface 20 of the coreless body 12 located on one side of the egress area or opening 27. In addition, the method further includes further unwinding a given number of successive spiral windings or turns of tape 18, or at least a portion of a layer of tape 16, in a reverse direction to the first direction, e.g., a counter-clockwise direction, from along the inner surface 20 located on the other and opposite side of the egress are or opening 27. Unwinding successive windings 15 of tape in the first direction on one side of the egress area or opening 27 and then in the reverse direction on the other or opposite side of the egress area or opening 27 helps to produce the net result of unwinding a length of tape 18 from the interior of the package body 12 with little or at least substantially reduced twisting along the length of unwound tape 18.

At stage 306, feeding the length of unwound the tape 18 from the interior of the package body 12 through the egress area or opening 27 in the sidewall 22 of the body 12 to an area external to the sidewall 22. Feeding the length of unwound tape 18 through the egress area or opening 27 may include displacing one or more spiral windings or one or more layers of tape 16 and feeding unwound tape 18 through one or more spaces 28. Feeding the length of unwound tape 18 may include attaching a portion of the tape 18 to a darning hook or a bullet-nosed fib to “worm” the length of unwound tape 18 laterally through the egress area or opening 27 in sidewall 22 of the package body 12.

At stage 308, the method includes extending the length of unwound tape 18 to an area external to the package body 12 for use in any of a variety of applications.

Having thus described at least one illustrative aspect of the invention, various alterations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention's limit is defined only in the following claims and the equivalents thereto. 

1. A traverse non-twist tape package comprising: a coreless body formed from a plurality of spirally wound layers of tape that define an outer diameter and a traverse length of the package body; the plurality of spirally wound layers of tape extending axially along the traverse length of the package body and including multiple spiral windings of tape; and the multiple spiral windings of tape including the same number of spiral windings of tape disposed on each side of an egress area or opening defined along a sidewall of the package body, wherein spiral windings of tape unwind from along an inner surface of the coreless body defining a cavity, such that, successive spiral windings of tape unwind from along the inner surface on one side of the egress area or opening in a first direction and other successive spiral windings of tape unwind from along the inner surface on an opposite side of the egress area or opening in a reverse direction relative to the first direction so that little or no residual twist occurs along a length of unwound tape.
 2. A tape package comprising: a coreless body formed from a plurality of spirally wound layers of tape that define an outer diameter and a traverse length of the package body; the plurality of spirally wound layers of tape extending axially along the traverse length of the package body and including multiple spiral windings of tape; and the multiple spiral windings of tape including a first given number of spiral windings of tape disposed on one side of an egress area or opening defined along a sidewall of the package body and a second given number of spiral windings of tape disposed on an opposite side of the egress area or opening, the first given number of spiral windings of tape being different from the second given number of spiral windings of tape, wherein spiral windings of tape unwind from along an inner surface of the coreless body defining a cavity, such that, the first given number of spiral windings unwinds from along the inner surface on one side of the egress area or opening in a first direction and the second given number of spiral windings of tape unwind from along the inner surface an opposite side of the egress area or opening in a reverse direction relative to the first direction so that a given amount of residual twist occurs along a length of unwound tape. 